A very fine Ancient Corinthian black-figure terracotta alabastron, decorated with a depiction of Boreas, the god of the North Wind. The vessel features a rounded piriform body, widening to a curved, indented base, and tapering up to a narrow neck. The short neck leads to a small mouth, surrounded by a wide, circular rim. A small handle descends from the flat underside of the rim, connecting to the neck and shoulder. The body of the vessel displays the god Boreas advancing to the right, with his arms outstretched. His bent legs have been set wide apart, with his right leg planted in front. His extended left leg flies out behind him, creating a wonderful sense of dynamic movement. Rendered stylistically, his bearded head is shown in profile and his facial features, such as his profile eye, with his pupil represented by a black outlined dot, his rounded nose, as well as his closed lips, are clearly visible. His head is adorned with incised lines, possibly a headdress, and he wears a short, knee-length tunic. The upper section of the garment is black and patterned with engraved lines, while the lower section of the tunic is plain and red. The details of his anatomy, including his fingers, toes, and musculature of his legs, have been etched out with care. Behind him, large winged unfurl; they curve outwards, before scrolling inwards at the tips, alternating between red and black feathers, each outlined with incisions. Three large, incised rosettes, one between his legs and a pair flanking him on either side, enrich the background of the main frieze. Smaller circular, decorative elements further decorate the vessel. To the top of the alabastron, the narrow neck has been ornamented with black tongues, which continue up and across the thick rim, creating a floral pattern that radiates around its mouth. To the bottom, small, black, rounded petals encircle the rounded indentation, producing another flower-like motif. The small handle at one side of the vessel is also painted in black. The decorative scheme cuts off on both sides before and below the handle. The piece has been mounted on a custom-made stand. Provenance: Ex International Auction House, Antiquities, 20 October 2005, London, Lot 348. Condition: Excellent condition. Slight encrustation and signs of wear as consistent with age, such as minor pitting, chipping, indentations, and scratches. Some loss of pigment. Small indentation to the base of the alabastron from the TL test. This piece is accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report, sample no.N201b98 from Oxford Authentication Ltd. Dimensions with the stand: L 4.6 cm x W 4.5cm x H 8.2 cm The alabastron alone measures 6.9cm in height, 3.6cm in length, and weighs 39g